Counter reset mechanism



y 1967 E. c. AMBLER ETAL 3,332,619

COUNTER RESET MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS EDWARD C. AMBLER BRADLEY L. BATSON Filed 001;. 22, 1965 ATTORNEY!)- y 1967 E. c. AMBLER EDTAL 3,332,619

COUNTER RESET MECHANI SM Filed 001:. 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS EDWARD C. AMBLER BRADLEY L. BATSON ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,332,619 COUNTER RESET MECHANISM Edward C. Ambler, Newington, and Bradley L. Batson, Hebron, Conn., assignors to Veeder-Root Incorporated, Hartford, Conn, a corporation of Connecticut Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 502,005 12 Claims. (Cl. 235-144) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A register reset mechanism for gasoline dispensing apparatus having a first shaft which is adapted to be manually rotated in one direction to load a reset spring and to be manually rotated in the opposite direction for conditioning the register for registering the amount of the subsequent fuel delivered, and a second shaft which is adapted to be manually rotated independently of the first shaft to sequentially condition the register for being reset and to trip the reset spring to reset the register.

The present invention relates to counter reset mechanisms and more particularly to a new and improved reset mechanism of the type shown and described in the United States patent of Harvey N. Bliss No. 2,932,448, dated April 12, 1960 and entitled Resetting Mechanism for Counters.

Reset mechanisms of the type shown and described in the aforementioned United States Patent No. 2,932,448 are conventionally used for resetting the volume and cost counters of the registers employed in gasoline dispensing apparatus. In general, this type of reset mechanism includes a control shaft having a cam on one end thereof for shifting the counter shafts and thereby condition the number wheels for being reset, and having a control plate on the other end thereof for loading a reset spring which is subsequently released for resetting the volume and cost counters. This control shaft is conventionally connected for manual operation by a control lever which is mounted in association with the usual fuel nozzle storage receptacle in a manner which necessitates that the lever be manually pivoted to a withdrawn pivotal position to shift the counter shafts for conditioning the counter number wheels for being reset and to load the reset spring before the fuel dispensing'nozzle is replaced within the storage receptacle. The manual lever is also conventionally connected to deactivate the dispensing apparatus as by turning off the usual fuel pump motor when it is manually pivoted to its withdrawn position and the lever is suitably retained in its withdrawn position until after the loaded reset spring is released to reset the number wheels to zero; Thereafter the manual lever can be pivoted to shift the counter shafts to their normal operating positions to recondition the number wheels for registering the cost and volume of the succeeding delivery and to reactivate the fuel dispensing apparatus by energizing the fuel delivery pump. Thus, it can be seen that in theconventional dispensing apparatus described the counter wheel shafts are shifted to condition the counter wheels for being reset immediately after the completion of a prior fuel delivery and when the fuel nozzle is replaced within the storage receptacle and the number wheel shafts are not thereafter returned to their normal operating positions for conditioning the register for registering the following fuel delivery until just before the succeeding delivery. The number wheels may however be inadvertently angularly displaced as a result of the axial displacement of the shafts for conditioning the number wheels for being reset and thereby give an inaccurate reading of the prior delivery after the fuel nozzle is replaced within the storage See receptacle. As a result, the inaccurate reading of the prior fuel delivery may possibly confuse the gasoline station attendant and/ or the customer.

It is, therefore, a principal aim of the present invention to provide an improved reset mechanism of the type described which provides for shifting the counter wheel shafts to condition the number wheels for being reset after the fuel dispensing nozzle is replaced within the storage receptacle and just before the number wheels are reset so that the number wheels provide an accurate registration of the prior fuel delivery during the interval between the termination of the prior fuel delivery and the operation of the reset mechanism to reset the counters.

It is another aim of the present invention to provide an improved counter reset mechanism of the type having a reset spring for resetting the counter which ensures that the counter provides an accurate reading of a prior count until the reset spring is triggered to reset the counter.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved counter reset mechanism of the type described which is useful in registers of conventional design without substantial modification of the register and which provides for delaying the shaft shifting phase of the reset cycle for conditioning the number wheels for being reset just prior to the wheel resetting phase of the reset cycle.

It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved counter reset mechanism of the type described which provides for simplifying the construction of the reset mechanism and for improving its reliability of operation.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is an end elevation view of one end of a register of the type described in U.S. Patent No. 2,932,448 showing an embodiment of an improved counter reset mechanism of the present invention in its operative condition for conditioning the register for counting;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the register of FIG, 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation view of the other end of the register of FIG. 1 showing the improved counter reset mechanism in its operative condition after the number wheels of the register have been reset and before the reset mechanism has been actuated to condition the register for counting;

FIG. 4 is a partial end elevation view, partly broken away, of the end of the register shown in FIG. 1 showing the improved counter reset mechanism in its operative condition after the reset spring has been loaded; and

FIG. 5 is a partial and elevation view similar to FIG. 4 showing the improved counter reset mechanism in full lines in its operative condition with the reset spring loaded and the number wheels conditioned for being reset and showing the improved counter reset mechanism in part in broken lines in its operative condition for releasing the reset spring for resetting the number wheels.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, a register of the type described in the aforementioned U.S. Patent No. 2,932,448 and conventionally employed in fuel dispensing apparatus for registering the cost and volume of each fuel delivery is shown modified to incorporate an embodiment of an improved counter reset mechanism of the present invention. As the register shown in the drawings is of the type described in U.S. Patent No. 2,932,448, reference should be made to this patent for a detailed understanding of the construction and operation of the register. In general however the volume and cost counters of the register are adapted to be alternatively conditioned for registering the cost and volume of the fuel delivered or conditioned for being reset after the fuel delivery by axially shifting the number wheel supporting shafts 1tl- 13 with a reciprocable slide 20 (FIG. 1). In particular, the slide 20 is shifted to the right, as viewed in FIG. 1, to the position shown in FIG. 1 to condition the counters of the register for being driven in a conventional manner for registering the cost and volume of the fuel delivered with the dispensing apparatus. When the slide 20 is shifted to the left as viewed in FIG. 1 to its position shown in FIG. 5, the wheel supporting shafts -13 are shifted to disengage the number wheels from their respective drive gears and to condition them for being reset. With the supporting shafts in this shifted position, the number wheels are individually reset through a drive train which includes a reset or input gear 30, gears 32, 34 in mesh with the input gear 30 and suitable additional gearing for rotating the number wheels sufiiciently for resetting them to zero during an angular displacement of 60 of the reset gear 30, in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3.

The reset gear 30 is rotatably mounted on a control shaft 36 which is provided with a coupling 38 on the end thereof for manual operation of the control shaft by a suitable control lever (not shown), for example as shown in US. Patent No. 2,814,444 of Harvey N. Bliss, dated November 26, 1957, and entitled Register, in US. Patent No. 2,833,477 of Harvey N. Bliss et a1. dated May 6, 1958, and entitled Resetting Mechanism for Counters. Conventionally, the control lever is mounted so that it must be manually operated to rotate the control shaft 36, in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, before the usual fuel dispensing nozzle can be replaced within the nozzle storage receptacle conventionally provided for storing the nozzle. between fuel deliveries. A control plate 40 is fixed for being rotated with the control shaft 36, and a reset drive plate 42 is rotatably mounted coaxially between the control plate 40 and the reset gear 30 to provide for indexing the reset gear 30, 60 in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3 for resetting the number wheels. For this purpose a ratchet type mechanism is provided which includes a ratchet wheel or notched plate 44 mounted on the reset gear 30 and a ratchet or drive pawl 46 pivotally mounted on the reset drive plate 42.

A latch pawl 48 is pivotally mounted on the outer face of the reset drive plate 42 for cooperation with a shoulder 49 on the control plate 40. Thus, by manually rotating the control plate 40, in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, from its initial or normal operating position to its extended position shown in FIG. 3, the latch pawl 48 will cause similar counterclockwise movement of the drive plate 42 from its initial angular position shown in FIG. 3 against the bias of a reset spring 50. The reset spring 50 is thereby loaded for subsequently returning the reset drive plate 42 to its initial position and for thereby simultaneously rotating the reset gear 30 60 with the drive pawl 46 for resetting the number wheels of the register. The control plate 40 must be manually rotated, in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, sufliciently to index the drive pawl 46 to the succeeding notch in the notched plate 44 and sufiiciently to provide engagement of a pivotal latch pawl 51 with a primary notch shoulder 52 in the control plate 40 which preferably occurs after the drive pawl 46 has been indexed to a succeeding notch. Also, to ensure that the notched plate 44 remains held against rotation during the reverse rotation of the reset drive plate 42, in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, a combination stop and no-back pawl 60 is pivotally mounted for engagement with the notch plate 44. However, at the completion of the rotary movement of the reset drive plate 42 to its extended position (not shown), the no-back pawl is camrned outwardly by the engagement of a cam lobe 68 on the reset drive plate 42 with a pin 70 on the no-back pawl 60 to release the notched plate 44 for rotation, in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3.

The latch pawl 51 is rotatably mounted on a secondary cont-r01 shaft 79. A trip or release pawl is ailixed to the secondary control shaft 79 and a suitable coupling 81 is shown provided for connecting the secondary control shaft for manual operation, as for example in the manner described in the aforementioned US. Patent No. 2,814,444. The trip pawl 80 is thereby adapted to be manually operated against the bias of a tension spring 82, in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, to engage the tail of the latch pawl 48 and thereby release the reset drive plate 42 for resetting the number wheels. This reverse rotary movement of the reset drive plate 42 is limited by the engagement of the shoulder 86 of the drive plate with the pin 88 on the latch pawl 51. Additionally, just prior to the engagement of the shoulder 86 with the 'pin 88, a cam 90 on the reset drive plate 42 provides for pivoting the pawl 51 outwardly to release the control plate 40. The control plate may then be manually pivoted, clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3, from its extended position shown in FIG. 3 to an initial or normal position to reactivate the fuel dispensing apparatus.

Thus it can be seen that by manual rotation of the control plate 40 from an initial angular position to its extended angular position shown in FIG. 3, the reset drive plate 42 is angularly turned, preferably slightly over 60 to adequately load the reset spring 50 and to index the drive pawl 46 to the succeeding notch in the notched disc 44. The control plate 40 and the reset drive plate 42 are held in the extended angular positions thereof against the bias of the reset spring 50 until the trip pawl 80 is manually pivoted to release the reset drive plate, and after the reset drive plate 42 has returned to its initial position shown in FIG. 3, the control plate 40 may be manually returned to its initial position for reactivating the dispensing apparatus.

Previously, the rotary movement of the control plate 40 between its initial and extended angular positions was employed for shifting the number wheel supporting shafts. In particular, the number wheel shafts were shifted in one axial direction to condition the register counters for being reset when the control plate 40 was rotated, in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, to load the reset spring. The number wheel shafts were shifted in the opposite axial direction for conditioning the counters for registering the succeeding fuel delivery when the control plate 40 was returned to its initial angular position. Thus, in conventional dispensing apparatus the number wheel shafts were shifted to condition them for resetting at the end of a fuel delivery and when the fuel nozzle was replaced within the usual storage receptacle provided. However, as a result of this shifting of the number Wheel shafts, one or more of the number wheels may be rotated slightly to give erroneous counter readings. And, such erroneous readings could readily confuse the gasoline station attendant and/ or the customer.

Also, as the counter wheel shafts were shifted to condition the number wheels for being reset as the control plate was rotated to its extended position and as the reset spring was loaded, it was previously necessary to ensure that the control plate 40 was suitably latched with the latch pawl 51 when the drive pawl 46 engaged the succeeding notch in the notched disc 44 otherwise a partial reset of the number wheels would result if the manually operated control plate 40 were released after the drive pawl 46 engaged the succeeding notch and before the latch pawl 51 were effective in retaining the reset drive plate in its fully extended position. For this reason a suitable additional latch pawl (not shown) is provided in conventional reset mechanisms of the type described to hold the drive pawl 46 out of the succeeding notch in the notched disc' 44 until after the latch pawl 51 has become effective to engage the primary notch shoulder 52 on the control plate 40. Such an additional latch pawl is shown and described in the US. Patent No. 2,836,363 of Otto Wild, Jr., dated May 27, 1958 and entitled Counter Resetting Means.

In accordance with the present invention however the counter shafts -13 are retained in their normal operating positions while the control plate 40 and control shaft 36 are manually rotated, to their extended angular positions shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. For this purpose a camming mechanism comprising a pair of coaxial cams or cam sections 100, 102 are mounted on the end of the control shaft 36, as seen in FIG. 1, and with the cam 100 fixed for rotation with the control shaft 36 and the cam 102 mounted for rotation on the control shaft independently of the cam 100. The cams 100, 102, respectively, cooperate with followers or rollers 104, 106 mounted on the slide 20. Thus, when the control plate 40 is manually rotated to its extended position to load the reset spring, the cam 100 is rotated, clockwise as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5, to permit the slide to be shifted to the left as viewed in FIG. 1 for conditioning the counter wheels for being reset. Likewise, when the control plate is manually returned to its normal or initial position, the cam 100 is rotated, counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 1, to shift the slide to the right as viewed in FIG. 1 and thereby condition the register for registering the cost and volume of the fuel dispensed.

The cam 102, on the other hand, is adapted to shift the slide 20 to the left as viewed in FIG. 1 and to condition the register for being reset when the cam 102 is rotated, in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1, from its normal position shown in FIG. 1 to its position shown in full lines in FIG. 5. For this purpose the cam 102 is provided with a cam lobe 110 between the cam portions 111, 112 of constant radius and which is engageable with the roller 106 for shifting the slide 20, to the left as viewed in FIG. 1. Also, as the cam 102 is rotated, in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5, beyond the position in full lines in FIG. 5 to the position shown in part in broken lines in FIG. 5, the slide 20 is held in this shifted position by, the constant radius portion 112 of the cam.

The cam 102 is actuated, in the clockwise direction as viewed in FIGS. 4 and 5, by a crank arm 114 mounted on the secondary control shaft 79 and having a roller 116 on the outer end thereof engageable with the cam 102. The crank arm 114 is, therefore, adapted to be manually rotated with the trip pawl 80. The crank arm 114 is however angularly positioned relative to the trip pawl 80 so that the cam 102 will be rotated to its position shown in full lines in FIG. 5 before the trip pawl 80 is rotated sufficiently to release the reset drive plate 42 for resetting the counter wheels. And, when the trip pawl 80 is rotated suflicently to release the reset drive plate 42, the crank arm 114 and cam 102 are rotated to their positions shown in broken lines in FIG. 5. Therefore, the cam 102 is rotated to shift the counter shafts and thereby condition the counter wheels for being reset just before the trip pawl 80 is rotated sufficiently to release the reset drive plate for resetting the counter wheels.

A pivotal latch 120 is provided for holding the cam 102 in its reset position as shown in FIG. 5 and to thereby ensure that the cam 102 does not inadvertently return to its angular position shown in FIG. 4, as from its own weight, after the manually operated secondary control shaft 79 is released. For this purpose the latch 120 is provided with an arm 121 with a recess 122 for receiving a pm 123 mounted on the cam 102 when the cam 102 is rotated to its position shown in full lines in FIG. 5. The recess 122 is however sufficiently large to permit the necessary freedom of movement of the pin 123 during the movement of the pin 123 during the movement of the cam 102 to its position shown in part in broken lines in FIG. 5.

After the counter wheels have been fully reset, the control plate 40 and the cam are rotated back to their normal position to reshift the shafts for conditioning the counters for counting and for reactivating the dispensing apparatus. During this return movement of the cam 100, a pin 124 on the cam 100 engages an inwardly projecting flange 125 on the end of an arm 126 of the latch 120 to pivot the latch 120, in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5, against the bias of a tension spring 127, and thereby release the cam 102. The cam 102 may thereby be returned by its own weight to its initial position shown in FIG. 4. Additionally, the latch 120 is provided with a cam edge 128 overlying the recess 122 and adapted to engage the pin 123 on the cam 102 to rotate the cam 102, in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 5, sufficiently to allow the slide 20 to be shifted to the right as viewed in FIG. 5 by the cam 100.

Inasmuch as the shafts are not shifted for resetting the number wheels until just 'before the reset drive plate 42 is released and are not shifted until after the reset drive plate 42 has been rotated to its fully extended position, the counter Wheels provide an accurate reading of the prior fuel delivery during the interval between the time when the fuel dispensing nozzle is replaced in the nozzle storage receptacle and the time when the latch pawl 51 is tripped to reset the number wheels. Also, if the control plate 40 is manually rotated, in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3, sufficiently to position the drive pawl 46 in the succeeding notch in the notched plate 44 and insufficiently to position the latch pawl 51 in engagement with the primary notch shoulder 52, the number wheels would not be reset when the drive plate is manually released because the counter wheel shafts have not yet been shifted to condition the number wheels for being reset. A secondary notch is provided in the control plate 40 which is adapted to receive the latch pawl 51 immediately before the drive pawl 46 is received within the succeeding notch in the notched plate 44. As a result, when the control plate 40 is rotated just sufficiently to position the drive pawl 46 within the succeeding notch in the notched plate, the secondary notch 140 will be effective in retaining the reset drive plate 42 and control plate 40 against substantial reverse angular displacement by the reset spring 50. Also, the resulting slight reverse angular displacement of the control plate 40 would not effect a partial reset of the number wheels even if the number wheels were conditioned for being reset because this slight reverse angular displacement of the control plate 40 would merely take up the backlash in the reset drive train. Also, in the position of the control plate 40 where the latch pawl 51 engages the secondary notch 140 the latch pawl 48 is out of position for engagement by the trip pawl 80. And the trip pawl 80 will be ineffective to release the latch pawl 48 until the control plate has been fully rotated to position the pawl 51 in engagement with the primary notch shoulder 52.

Therefore, it can be seen that the improved reset mechanism of the present invention provides for ensuring that the counters of the register provide an accurate reading of the prior fuel delivery until they are reset. Additionally, the improved reset mechanism provides for a more simplified construction and for an improved reliability of operation.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications and adaptations of the structure above described will become readily apparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a counter mechanism having a resettable counter adapted to be alternatively conditioned for counting and for being reset, a reset drive member rotatable in forward and reverse angular directions between initial and extended angular positions respectively and operable in its reverse angular direction for resetting the counter, a reset spring for rotating the reset drive member in the reverse angular direction, releasable latching means for retaining the reset drive member in its extended angular position; and selectively operable means for rotating the reset drive member forwardly to its extended angular position, for releasing the latching means, and for alternatively conditioning the counter for counting and for being reset, the improvement wherein the selectively operable means comprises first control means operable for sequentially conditioning the counter for being reset and for releasing the latching means and second control means operable for alternatively rotating the reset drive member to its extended position and for conditioning the counter for counting, said first control means being operable for sequentially conditioning the counter for being reset and for releasingthe latching means independently of and after the second control means is operated to rotate the reset drive member to its extended position so that the counter remains conditioned for counting when the second control means is operated to rotate the reset drive member to its extended position.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the first control means comprises cam means rotatable from an initial position to a reset position for conditioning the counter for being reset, rotatable release means for releasing the latching means, and means providing for rotating the cam means and release means to condition the counter for being reset and for thereafter releasing the latching means.

3. In a register having a resettable counter with a plurality of number wheels of increasing order and a number wheel supporting shaft axially shiftable for alternatively conditioning the number wheels for being reset and for registering a count; and a counter reset mechanism including a rotatable reset drive member operable in forward and reverse angular directions and operable in the reverse angular direction for resetting the number wheels, spring means biasing the reset drive member in the reverse angular direction, a manually operable control member coaxial with the rotatable reset drive member rotatable in said forward and reverse angular directions, first releasable latching means mounted for latching the reset drive member to the control member for rotating the reset drive member with the control member in the forward angular direction from initial angular positions thereof to extended angular positions thereof, second releasable latching means for retaining the control member in its extended angular position, first latch release means for selectively releasing the first latching means, second latch release means for releasing the second latching means in accordance with the reverse angular movement of the reset drive member to the initial angular positions thereof, and shift means operable in timely sequence with the forward and reverse angular movement of the reset drive member between the initial and extended angular positions thereof for axially shifting the number wheel supporting shaft for conditioning the number wheels for being reset with the reset drive plate and for conditioning the number wheels for registering a count after they are reset, the improvement wherein the shift means comprises first and second coaxial independently rotatable control elements, said first control element being rotatable in one angular direction from an initial position to a reset position for conditioning the number wheels for being reset and the second control element being rotatable in the opposite angular direction for returning the first control element to its initial position and for conditioning the number wheels for registering a count.

4. In a register having a resettable counter with a plurality of number wheels of increasing order and a number wheel supporting shaft axially shiftable for conditioning the number wheels for being reset and for registering a count, and a counter reset mechanism including a rotatable reset drive member operable in forward and reverse angular directions and operable in the reverse angular direction for resetting the number wheels, spring means biasing the reset drive member in the reverse angular direction, a manually operable control member coaxial with the rotatable reset drive member rotatable in said forward and reverse angular directions, first releasable latching means mounted for latching the reset drive member to the control member and for thereby rotating the reset drive member with the control member in the forward angular direction from initial angular positions thereof to extended angular positions there, second 'releasable latching means for retaining the control member in its extended angular position, first latch release means for selectively releasing the first latching means, second latch release means for releasing the second latching means in accordance with the reverse angular movement of the reset drive member to the initial angular position thereof, and shift means operable in timely sequence with the forward and reverse angular movement of the reset drive member between the initial and extended angular positions thereof for axially shifting the number wheel supporting shaft for conditioning the number wheels for being reset with the reset drive plate and for conditioning the number wheels for registering a count after they are reset, the improvement wherein the shift means comprises first shift means operatively connected with the control member for shifting the shaft in one axial direction for conditioning the number wheels for registering a count in conjunction with the rotation of the control member in the reverse angular direction to the initial angular position thereof, and second shift means operatively connected with the first latch release means for conditioning the number wheels for being reset just prior to the release of the first latching means.

5. In a register having a resettable counter with indicia wheels for registering a count and a wheel supporting shaft axially shiftable for alternatively conditioning the indicia wheels for being reset and for registering a count, and a counter reset mechanism including a rotatable reset drive member operable in forward and reverse angular directions and operable in the reverse angular direction for resetting the indicia wheels, spring means biasing the reset drive member in the reverse angular direction, a manually operable control member coaxial with the reset drive member rotatable in said forward and reverse angular directions, first releasable latching means for latching the reset drive member to the control member and for thereby rotating the reset drive member with the control member in the forward angular direction from initial angular positions thereof to extended angular positions thereof, second releasable latching means for retaining the control member in its extended angular position, first latch release means for selectively releasing the 'first latching means, second latch release means for releasing the second latching means in accordance with the reverse angular movement of the reset drive member to the initial angular position thereof, and shift means operable in timely sequence with the forward and reverse angular movement of the reset drive member between the initial and extended angular positions thereof for axially shifting the wheel supporting shaft for conditioning the indicia wheels for being reset with the reset drive member and for conditioning the indicia wheels for registering a count after they are reset, the improvement wherein the shift means comprises first shift means operatively connected with the first latch release means for shifting the wheel supporting shaft in one axial direction for conditioning the indicia wheels for being reset just prior to the release of the first latching means, and-second shift means for shifting the wheel supporting shaft in the opposite axial direction for conditioning the indicia wheels for registering a count when the control member is rotated from its extended to its initial position.

6. In a counter mechanism having a resettable counter with indicia wheels for registering a count and an indicia wheel supporting shaft axially shiftable for alternatively conditioning the indicia wheels for being reset and for registering a count, and a counter reset mechanism including a rotatable reset drive member operable in forward and reverse angular directions and operable in the reverse angular direction for resetting the indicia wheels, spring means biasing the reset drive member in the reverse angular direction, a manually operable control member coaxial with the reset drive member rotatable in said forward and reverse angular directions, first re leasable latching means for latching the reset drive mem ber to the control member for rotating the reset drive member with the control member in the forward angular direction from initial angular positions thereof to extended angular positions thereof, second releasable latching means for retaining the control member in its extended angular position, first latch release means for selectively releasing the first latching means, second latch release means for releasing the second latching means in accordance with the reverse angular movement of the reset drive member to the initial angular position thereof, and shift means operable in timely sequence with the forward and reverse angular movement of the reset drive member between the initial and extended angular positions thereof for axially shifting the indicia wheel supporting shaft for conditioning the number wheels for being reset with'the reset drive member and for conditioning the number wheels for counting after they are reset, the improvement wherein the shift means oomprises first cam means rotatable from an initial angular position to a reset angular position for shifting the indicia wheel supporting shaft in one axial direction for conditioning the indicia wheels for being reset, second cam means coaxial with the first cam means and rotatable with the control member for shifting the indicia wheel supporting shaft in the opposite axial direction for conditioning the indicia wheels for registering a count when the control member is rotated from its extended to its initial position, crank means operatively connected with the first latch release means for rotating the first cam means from its initial angular position to its reset angular position just prior to the release of the first latching means, third releasable latching means for holding the first cam means in its reset angular position,, and actuator means on the second cam means for releasing the third latching means for returning the first cam means to its initial position when the second cam means is rotated to shift the indicia wheel supporting shaft in said opposite axial direction.

7. The improvement of claim 6 wherein the third releasable latching means is pivotally mounted, wherein the actuator means on the second cam means provides for pivoting the third releasable latching means in one angular direction for release thereof, and wherein the third releasable latching means includes camming means for camming the first cam means from its reset angular position when the third releasable latching means is pivoted in said one angular direction.

8. In fuel dispensing apparatus having a fuel dispensing nozzle for the delivering of fuel, a receptacle for storing the dispensing nozzle between fuel deliveries, a register for registering the fuel deliveries and resettable after a fuel delivery for registering a succeeding fuel delivery, and a register reset mechanism for resetting the register after each delivery including a rotatable reset drive member operable in forward and reverse angular directions and operable in the reverse angular direction for resetting the register, spring means biasing the reset drive member in the reverse angular direction, a control member coaxial with the rotatable drive member rotatable in said forward and reverse angular directions, first releasable latching means for latching the reset drive member to the control member for rotating the reset drive member with the control member in the forward angular direction from initial angular positions thereof to extended angular positions thereof, second releasable latching means for retaining the control member in its extended angular position, first latch release means operable for selectively releasing the first latching means, second latch release means for releasing the second latching means in accordance with the reverse angular movement of the reset drive member to the initial angular position thereof, manually operable means operable for rotating the control member and for operating the first latch release means, said manually operable means being associated with the nozzle storage receptacle so that the nozzle has to be removed from the storage receptacle before the manually operable means can be manually operated to rotate the control plate to its initial position and so that the manually operable means has to be manually operated to rotate the control plate to its extended position before the nozzle can be replaced with-in the receptacle, and conditioning means operable in timely sequence with the forward and reverse angular movement of the reset drive member between the initial and extended angular positions thereof for conditioning the register for being reset with the reset drive member and for conditioning the register for registration of a succeeeding fuel delivery after being reset, the improvement wherein the condtioining means comprises first control means operable by the manually operable means for conditioning the register for registering the fuel delivered when the control member is rotated to its initial position, and second control means operable by the manually operable means for conditioning the register for being reset when the first latch release means is operated to release the first latching means.

9. In a counter mechanism having a resettable counter with number wheels adapted to be alternatively conditioned for registering a count and for being reset, a rotatable reset member rotatable in one angular direction for resetting the number wheels to zero, a rotatable reset drive member mounted coaxially with the reset member and rotatable in forward and reverse angular directions between initial and extended angular positions respectively, a one-way drive ratchet mechanism for con mating the reset drive member to the reset member for rotating the reset member in said one angular direction for resetting the number wheels to zero when the reset drive member is rotated in its reverse angular direction from its extended angular position, said ratchet mechanism including a ratchet wheel with a plurality of angularly spaced notches and a reset drive pawl engageable therewith, the reset drive pawl being adapted for engagement with a succeeding notch on the ratchet wheel when the reset drive member is rotated in the forward angular direction to its extended position, a reset spring for rotating the reset drive member in the reverse angular direction, releasable latching means for retaining the reset drive member in its extended angular position; and manually operable means for rotating the reset drive member forwardly to its extended angular position, for releasing the latching means, and for alternatively conditioning the number Wheels for registering a count and for being reset, the improvement wherein the manually operable means comprises first control means operable for sequentially conditioning the number wheels for being reset and for releasing the latching means and second control means operable for alternatively rotating the re set drive member to its extended position and for conditioning the number wheels for registering a count, and wherein the releasable latching means comprises means for latching the reset drive member in primary and secondary angular latching positions immediately forwardly and reversely respectively of its angular position where the reset drive pawl is positioned for engagement with the succeeding notch in the ratchet wheel.

10. The improvement of claim 9 wherein the second control means and the releasable latching means comprise a rotatable control member coaxial with the rotatable reset drive member rotatable in said forward and reverse angular directions, a first releasable latch for latching the reset drive member to the control member for rotating the reset drive member with the control member in the forward angular direction from initial angular positions thereof to extended angular positions thereof, and a second releasable latch for retaining the control member in its extended angular position comprising a latching pawl pivotally mounted for engagement with the rotatable control member, and a pair of angularly spaced detents on the rotatable control member for retaining the reset drive member in said primary and secondary latching positions and wherefrom the reset drive member maybe released to rotate the reset member sufiiciently to fully reset the number wheels.

11. In a counter mechanism having a resettable counter adapted to be alternatively conditioned for counting and for being reset, a reset drive member rotatable in forward and reverse angular directions between initial and extended angular positions respectively and operable in its reverse angular direction for resetting the counter,

m a reset spring for rotating the reset drive member in the reverse angular direction, releasable latching means for retaining the reset drive member in its extended angular position; and selectively operable means for rotating the reset drive member forwardly to its extended angular position, for releasing the latching means, and for alternatively conditioning the counter for counting and for being reset, the improvement wherein the selectively operable means comprises first control means operable for sequentially conditioning the counter for being reset and for releasing the latching means and second control means operable for alternatively rotating the reset drive member to its extended position and for conditioning the counter for counting, the second control means comprising first manually operable means rotatable in opposite angular directions for alternatively rotating the reset drive member to its extended position and for conditioning the counter for counting, and the first control means comprising second manually operable means rotatable for conditioning the counter for being reset and for thereafter releasing the latching means.

12. In a counter mechanism having a resettable counter adapted to be alternatively conditioned for counting and for being reset, a reset drive member rotatable in forward and reverse angular directions between initial and extended angular positions respectively and operable in its reverse angular direction for resetting the counter, a reset spring for rotating the reset drive member in the reverse angular direction, releasable latching means for retaining the reset drive member in its extended angular position; and selectively operable means for rotating the reset drive member forwardly to its extended angular position, for releasing the latching means, and for alternat-ively conditioning the counter for counting and for being reset, the improvement wherein the selectively operable means comprises first control means operable for sequentially conditioning the counter for being reset and for releasing the latching means and second control means operable for alternatively rotating the reset drive member to its extended position and for conditioning the counter for counting, the first and second control means comprising first and second coaxial independently rotatable control elements respectively, said first control element being rotatable in one angular direction from an initial position to a reset position for conditioning the counter for being reset and the second control element being rotatable in the opposite angular direction for returning the first control element to its initial position and for conditioning the counter for counting.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,814,444 11/195'7 Bliss 235-94 3,142,442 7/1964 Wild 235-144 3,216,659 11/1965 Ambler et .al 235l44 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

STANLEY A. WAL, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A COUNTER MECHANISM HAVING A RESETTABLE COUNTER ADAPTED TO BE ALTERNATIVELY CONDITIONED FOR COUNTING AND FOR BEING RESET, A RESET DRIVE MEMBER ROTATABLE IN FORWARD AND REVERSE ANGULAR DIRECTIONS BETWEEN INITIAL AND EXTENDED ANGULAR POSITIONS RESPECTIVELY AND OPERABLE IN ITS REVERSE ANGULAR DIRECTION FOR RESETTING THE COUNTER, A RESET SPRING FOR ROTATING THE RESET DRIVE MEMBER IN THE REVERSE ANGULAR DIRECTION, RELEASABLE LATCHING MEANS FOR RETAINING THE RESET DRIVE MEMBER IN ITS EXTENDED ANGULAR POSITION; AND SELECTIVELY OPERABLE MEANS FOR ROTATING THE RESET DRIVE MEMBER FORWARDLY TO ITS EXTENDED ANGULAR POSITION, FOR RELEASING THE LATCHING MEANS, AND FOR ALTERNATIVELY CONDITIONING THE COUNTER FOR COUNTING AND FOR BEING RESET, THE IMPROVEMENT WHEREIN THE SELECTIVELY OPERABLE MEANS COMPRISES FIRST CONTROL MEANS OPERABLE FOR SEQUENTIALLY CONDITIONING THE COUNTER FOR BEING RESET AND FOR RELEASING THE LATCHING MEANS AND SECOND CONTROL MEANS OPERABLE FOR ALTERNATIVELY ROTATING THE RESET DRIVE MEMBER TO ITS EXTENDED POSITION AND FOR CONDITIONING THE COUNTER FOR COUNTING, SAID FIRST CONTROL MEANS BEING OPERABLE FOR SEQUENTIALLY CONDITIONING THE COUNTER FOR BEING RESET AND FOR RELEASING THE LATCHING MEANS INDEPENDENTLY OF AND AFTER THE SECOND CONTROL MEANS IS OPERATED TO ROTATE THE RESET DRIVE MEMBER TO ITS EXTENDED POSITION SO THAT THE COUNTER REMAINS CONDITIONED FOR COUNTING WHEN THE SECOND CONTROL MEANS IS OPERATED TO ROTATE THE RESET DRIVE MEMBER TO ITS EXTENDED POSITION. 